The Effects of Diacerhein on Mechanical Allodynia in Inflammatory and Neuropathic Models of Nociception in Mice

• Published in: Anesthesia and analgesia Vol. 101; no. 6; pp. 1763 - 1769
• Main Authors: Quintão, Nara L. M., Medeiros, Rodrigo, Santos, Adair R.S., Campos, Maria M., Calixto, João B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD International Anesthesia Research Society 01-12-2005; Lippincott
• Subjects: Amines - therapeutic use; Anesthesia; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Animals; Anthraquinones - therapeutic use; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids - therapeutic use; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gabapentin; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - therapeutic use; Inflammation - drug therapy; Medical sciences; Mice; Pain - drug therapy; Sciatic Neuropathy - complications; Sciatic Neuropathy - drug therapy; Anesthesia; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Mouse; Animal; Rodentia
• ISSN: 0003-2999; 1526-7598
• DOI: 10.1213/01.ane.0000184182.03203.61

In this study we analyzed the systemic antiallodynic properties of diacerhein, a drug used to treat osteoarthritis, in inflammatory and neuropathic models of nociception in mice. The effects of diacerhein were compared with those of gabapentin, a drug used clinically for the management of neuropathic pain. Similar to gabapentin, diacerhein was able to significantly reverse the mechanical allodynia induced by carrageenan. A significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced nociception was also observed when diacerhein was administered by the intrathecal but not by the intraplantar route. The treatment with diacerhein or with gabapentin also inhibited the mechanical allodynia induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) or after the partial ligation of the sciatic nerve (PLSN). In the same range of doses, diacerhein or gabapentin did not affect the locomotor activity, motor coordination, or body temperature of the animals. The present results indicate that diacerhein produces marked antiallodynic effects in carrageenan and CFA nociception models and also inhibits the neuropathic pain after PLSN, with an efficacy similar to that observed for gabapentin. Diacerhein may be a potentially interesting tool for the management of inflammatory and neuropathic pain.